Magnitude 5.2 Earthquake Strikes Afghanistan Amid Recent Seismic Activity
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake hit Afghanistan on March 27, 2025, at a depth of 180 km. This occurred after a 4.6-magnitude aftershock earlier the same day. The region’s vulnerability to such seismic events is exacerbated by ongoing conflicts and underdevelopment, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Afghanistan’s tectonic structure makes it prone to frequent earthquakes.
On March 27, 2025, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Afghanistan, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS). The tremor occurred at a depth of 180 kilometers and was documented at 1:58 PM IST. The coordinates of the earthquake were noted as 36.32 N latitude and 71.08 E longitude, marking it as a significant seismic event for the region.
Earlier on the same day, a magnitude 4.6 aftershock was recorded at 8:38 AM IST, occurring at a depth of 160 kilometers with coordinates 36.36 N and 70.93 E. On March 23, another tremor of 4.2 magnitude occurred in Afghanistan, with its seismic details reported by NCS. The quake, noted at 11:50 AM IST, was at a depth of 138 kilometers, coordinates 36.31 N and 71.05 E.
Furthermore, a 4.9 magnitude earthquake took place on March 21 at 1:00 AM IST, also at a depth of 160 kilometers. The coordinates for this event were 36.48 N and 71.45 E. These incidents highlight a series of earthquakes occurring within a few days, demonstrating the ongoing seismic activity in the region.
Afghanistan, as stated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), is prone to various natural disasters, including earthquakes. The country suffers from a lack of resilience due to decades of conflict and underdevelopment, exacerbating the impact of such seismic events on vulnerable communities.
The geologically active Hindu Kush Mountain range and the numerous fault lines between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates contribute to Afghanistan’s earthquake susceptibility. Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more destruction than deeper ones, with the region frequently experiencing shallow seismic events as tectonic plates shift past each other.
The recent earthquake activity in Afghanistan, highlighted by a magnitude 5.2 event on March 27, 2025, underscores the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters. With seismic events occurring frequently and potent aftershocks noted, Afghanistan’s communities, already strained by conflict, face heightened risks. The geological context provided by the Hindu Kush and fault lines indicates a likelihood of continued seismic activity in the region.
Original Source: www.zeebiz.com
